¶ And on the third day put Esther on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace within over against the king's house. And the king sat upon his royal seat in the king's palace over against the gate of the house.
And when the king saw Esther the queen stonding in the court, she found grace in his sight. And the king held out the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther. So Esther stepped forth, and touched the top of the scepter.
Then said the king unto her: What wilt thou queen Esther? and what requirest thou? ask even the half of the empire, and it shall be given thee.
Esther said: If it please the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared.
The king said: Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. Now when the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared,
the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, Esther what is thy petition? and it shall be given thee. And what requirest thou? even the half of the empire, it shall be done.
Then answered Esther and said: My petition and desire is,
if I have found grace in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to give me my petition, and to fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and so will I do tomorrow as the king hath said.
¶ Then went Haman forth the same day joyful and merry in his mind. And when he saw Mardocheus in the king's gate, that he stood not up and kneeled before him, he was full of indignation at Mardocheus.
Nevertheless he refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent, and called for his friends, and Zares his wife,
and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children all together how the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken above the princes and servants of the king.
Haman said moreover: Yea and Esther the queen let no man come with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, except me, and tomorrow am I bidden unto her also with the king.
But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mardocheus the Iew sitting at the king's gate.
Then said Zares his wife and all his friends unto him: Let them make a gallows of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon, if thou comest merrily with the king unto the banquet. Haman was well content with all, and caused a gallows to be prepared.
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Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.